Turbine vane ID support

Abstract

A turbine vane ID support system usable to support the ID of a turbine vane and including a transition seal system and a turbine vane ID forward rail seal system. The transition seal system may seal the turbine vane ID support body to a transition, and the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system may seal the turbine vane ID support body to a turbine vane. Use of the transition seal system and the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system eliminates the problems inherent with conventional seals used to seal transitions directly to turbine vanes. The turbine vane ID support system may also be configured such that the turbine vane ID support system may be removed to facilitate removal of turbine vanes and blades for repair or replacement.

1. A turbine vane ID support system, comprising:
 a turbine vane ID support body with a base configured to be attached to a shaft cover; 
 a transition seal system extending from the turbine vane ID support body to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a transition; and 
 a turbine vane ID forward rail seal system extending from the turbine vane ID support body to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a turbine vane ID forward rail of a turbine vane. 
 
     
     
       2. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine vane ID support body further comprises a forward rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body, wherein the transition seal system and the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system are coupled to the forward rail support arm. 
     
     
       3. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 2 , wherein the forward rail support arm includes at least one forward rail receiving slot configured to slideably receive the turbine vane ID forward rail. 
     
     
       4. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 1 , further comprising an aft rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body aft of the forward rail support arm. 
     
     
       5. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 4 , further comprising a turbine vane ID aft rail seal system extending from the aft rail support arm to seal an aft turbine vane rail to the turbine vane ID support body. 
     
     
       6. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 5 , wherein the turbine vane ID aft rail seal system comprises at least one aft rail seal cavity in the aft rail support arm, wherein the at least one aft rail seal cavity houses at least one aft rail seal. 
     
     
       7. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 1 , wherein the transition seal system comprises a transition seal support cavity configured to support a transition seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and the transition. 
     
     
       8. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 7 , further comprising the transition seal extending from the turbine vane ID support body, wherein the transition seal is bent such that a portion of the transition seal that contacts the transition is generally orthogonal to a portion of the transition seal housed in the transition seal support cavity. 
     
     
       9. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system comprises a forward rail seal support cavity configured to support a forward rail seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and the turbine vane. 
     
     
       10. The turbine airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine vane ID support body is formed from a plurality of struts forming at least one cooling fluid flow channel through the turbine vane ID support body. 
     
     
       11. A turbine vane ID support system, comprising:
 a turbine vane ID support body with a base configured to be attached to a shaft cover; 
 a forward rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body; 
 at least one forward rail receiving slot positioned in the forward rail support arm that is configured to slideably receive a forward turbine vane rail; 
 a transition seal system positioned on the forward rail support arm to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a transition; and 
 a turbine vane ID forward rail seal system positioned on the forward rail support arm to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a turbine vane ID forward rail of a turbine vane. 
 
     
     
       12. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 11 , further comprising an aft rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body aft of the forward rail support arm. 
     
     
       13. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 12 , further comprising a turbine vane ID aft rail seal system extending from the aft rail support arm to seal an aft turbine vane rail to the turbine vane ID support body. 
     
     
       14. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 13 , wherein the turbine vane ID aft rail seal system comprises at least one aft rail seal cavity in the aft rail support arm, wherein the at least one aft rail seal cavity houses at least one aft rail seal. 
     
     
       15. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 11 , wherein the transition seal system comprises a transition seal support cavity configured to support a transition seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and a transition. 
     
     
       16. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 15 , further comprising a transition seal extending from the turbine vane ID support body, wherein the transition seal is bent such that a portion of the transition seal that contacts the transition is generally orthogonal to a portion of the transition seal housed in the transition seal support cavity. 
     
     
       17. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 11 , wherein the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system comprises a forward rail seal support cavity configured to support a forward rail seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and the turbine vane. 
     
     
       18. The turbine airfoil of  claim 11 , wherein the turbine vane ID support body is formed from a plurality of struts forming at least one cooling fluid flow channel through the turbine vane ID support body. 
     
     
       19. A turbine vane ID support system, comprising:
 a turbine vane ID support body with a base configured to be attached to a shaft cover, wherein the turbine vane ID support body is formed from a plurality of struts forming at least one cooling fluid flow channel through the turbine vane ID support body; 
 a forward rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body; 
 at least one forward rail receiving slot positioned in the forward rail support arm that is configured to slideably receive a forward turbine vane rail; 
 a transition seal system positioned on the forward rail support arm to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a transition, wherein the transition seal system comprises a transition seal support cavity configured to support a transition seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and a transition; and 
 a turbine vane ID forward rail seal system positioned on the forward rail support arm to seal the turbine vane ID support body to a turbine vane ID forward rail of a turbine vane, wherein the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system comprises a forward rail seal support cavity configured to support a forward rail seal extending between the turbine vane ID support body and the turbine vane. 
 
     
     
       20. The turbine vane ID support system of  claim 19 , further comprising an aft rail support arm extending from the turbine vane ID support body aft of the forward rail support arm and a turbine vane ID aft rail seal system extending from the aft rail support arm to seal an aft turbine vane rail to the turbine vane ID support body; wherein the turbine vane ID aft rail seal system comprises at least one aft rail seal cavity in the aft rail support arm, wherein the at least one aft rail seal cavity houses at least one aft rail seal.